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. But a fence would give you two minims -- if he was feeling generous. You should have brought more than that back in your bowl."
"Well . . . I'll get better at it. And it's more fun than begging. You ought to see how Ziggie goes about it."
"I've seen Ziggie work. He's skillful."
"He's the best!"
"Still, I suppose he could do better with two hands."
"Well, maybe, though you only use one hand. But he's teaching me to use either hand."
"That's good. You might need to know -- some day you might find yourself short one, the way Ziggie is. You know how Ziggie lost his hand?"
"Huh?"
"You know the penalty? If they catch you?"
Thorby did not answer. Baslim went on, "One hand for the first offense -- that's what it cost Ziggie to learn his trade. Oh, he's good, for he's still around and plying his trade. You know what the second offense carries? Not just the other hand. You know?"
Thorby gulped. "I'm not sure."
"I think you must have heard; you don't want to remember." Baslim drew his thumb across his throat. "That's what Ziggie gets next time -- they shorten him. His Serenity's justices figure that a boy who can't learn once won't learn twice, so they shorten him."
"But, Pop, I won't be caught! I'll be awful careful . . . just like today. I promise!"
Baslim sighed. The kid still believed that it couldn't happen to him. "Thorby, get your bill of sale
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